After being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease in 2019, writer Ben Locke had to rethink the way he lived. Growing up, his family had occupied a series of historic houses, where his mother ardently dove into design projects—a passion that would later rub off on Ben—but several years of severe illness exacerbated by exposure to irritants such as mold and dust forced him to approach his environments differently.

Ben recently helped redesign his parents’ home in Nashville’s Germantown, which dates to the late 1800s and once served as the record label offices and recording studio for late musician John Prine. His first solo design venture, however, would be a detached accessory dwelling unit (DADU) in the backyard. But it was only after breaking ground on the project that he made an arrangement with his parents to live in it until he completed his own home on property he recently purchased. So, knowing he would now be staying in the DADU, making choices to accommodate his condition became critical.

“I needed to maximize space and prioritize being in a really clean environment, taking care of the furnishings that I had, and being really cautious about the things that I purchased and what came into the house,” Ben says. Armed with $254,000, a large chunk of which would go toward the structure’s envelope elements such as the metal roof, concrete flooring, siding, drywall and doors, Ben created a compact, inviting space outfitted with finishes and furnishings to support a clean living environment.

$3,850 Site Work	$7,281.10 Foundation	$23,007.12 Structural
$20,126.12 Wall Finishes	$4,161.14 Flooring	$8,700 Roofing
$8,000 Electrical	$7,931.28 Plumbing	$8,712 HVAC
$13,000 Landscaping	$3,970.20 Kitchen & Bath Fixtures	$1,274.20 Lighting
$11,593.06 Cabinetry	$1,500 Countertops	$5,449.51 Appliances
$1,063.25 Windows & Glazing	$19,358.88 Doors	$10,107.92 Millwork
$6,995 Tilework	$3,948 Furnishings & Decor	$32,413.78 General Contractor Fee
$6,500 Architect/Design Fee	$2,886.76 Waste/Debris Removal	$1,469.69 Punch Materials (+ Labor)
$12,588.71 Fence	$6,000 Project Management (+ Admin Fee)	$840 Equipment Rental
$5,924.37 General Conditions
Grand Total: $238,652.09

To maintain Germantown’s historic character, the city has a strict set of design guidelines and codes pertaining to the exterior appearance of the district’s buildings, both new and renovated. “For the DADU, the height couldn’t be taller than the highest point of the main house,” Ben says, “so we had to get creative with the space planning. The measurements aren’t tall enough for two full floors, so we added a half-floor loft that gave us a few extra square feet for a library and lounge with a record player.”

Clocking in at just 470 square feet, the structure includes a bedroom, bathroom, living area with a kitchenette, and the aforementioned loft. “We had to get economical with the space and maximize every square inch we could,” Ben says. “The original plans were approved and permitted before I decided I was going to live there, so by the time we started we couldn’t move the plumbing, or else I would have shifted the kitchen to a different wall.” Shadowens Studio, the firm behind the main house renovation, also served as the architect of record for the DADU. But Ben steered most of the interior design work, a money-saving move he says allowed him to experiment with elements like bold Anthropologie wallpaper, dark paint, and textured tile before installing them in the home he plans to build.

Another large portion of the budget ($24,000) went toward the invisible systems that keep the DADU running smoothly, mainly HVAC, electric, sewer, and plumbing. Inside, concrete floors are balanced with wide white trim, custom white oak cabinetry (both adding up to $16,677 with labor) and Portola Paint in chocolatey black—a risky design choice that could have made the space feel dark and cramped, but doesn’t thanks to large French doors facing the yard and a porthole-like window in the loft. According to Ben, the paint was a necessary splurge ($6,771), as it needed to be no-odor, low-VOC, and contain as few chemicals as possible.

To bring in warmth and texture, Ben chose several styles of Clé tile, used as a backsplash for the kitchenette and countertop and shower in the bathroom; the installation alone set him back $7,000. In the kitchenette, the shelving unit does double duty, providing storage and creating a banister for the loft. It also opens the space to more natural light. While he can’t bring whatever he wants into his space, Ben says that when it comes to vintage, anything that’s nonporous is still a go, so two colorful plastic Panton chairs provide seating at the dining table, while an ornate vintage wall pendant adds personality in the bathroom.

Keeping a visual link between the DADU and original house was important, so Ben opted for the same dark green standing-seam metal roof ($8,700) and black-painted exterior siding ($4,830 for the paint) used for the latter. A set of glass doors on each structure face a small central paved patio and grassy patch, allowing for easy connection between the two spaces—especially on warm, sunny days.

Moving into a newly built residence was a unique experience for Ben, who was used to the quirk and character that comes with historic homes. “It was really challenging to try to bring in personality, story, and a unique feel to a space built from the ground-up in the way that I was more familiar with in the past with older homes that had more history and layers,” he says.

Diagnosis aside, Ben was able to craft a home that balances his need for a clean environment and desire for design-forward interiors. Vintage pieces mixed with meaningful art and accessories, some gifted, create an ideal setting for hangouts, solo downtime, and diving into his next project. “As an author, it was really important to design a space that was creative and inspiring for the sake of writing,” Ben says. “Being surrounded by books, art, records, and funky design helps extract new avenues and perspectives for storytelling.”

More Budget Breakdown stories:

A Seattle Couple Build Twin Backyard Offices for $51K—No Permit Required

An $80K ADU Gives a Growing Austin Family Space for Work—and Working Out

Project Details:

Architect of Record: Shadowens Studio / @shadowensstudio

Builder: Artisan Build Construct / @artisan_build_construct

Interior Design: Ben Locke / @therealblocke